Federal fraud rulings are welcome

9:45 AM,
Apr. 17, 2014

The lawyer of Ecuadorean people affected by Texaco-Chevron.

Written by

Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.

A few years ago, the corruption convictions of several prominent plaintiffs' lawyers put a spotlight on dishonesty in American civil courts. Now the sleaze has burst back into the news with cases involving Chevron and Dole Food Co., this time with an international twist.

Last month, a federal court in Manhattan found that a U.S. plaintiffs' lawyer had masterminded a multibillion dollar fraud and extortion scheme against Chevron in Ecuador. Three days later, a California appellate court affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit against Dole as a "fraud on the court" perpetrated by U.S. and ...